Carpet-cleaning machine.



H. F. GRAY. CABPT CLEANING MACHINE.y APPLICATION mm ocr. l2. |917.

1,268,963. l Patented June 1l, l9l8.

5 skins-SHEET z. x ll l\ o www m CARPET CLEANING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 00T. I2. 19u. 1,268,963.

n@ m. m6 Gf w. .R w.

H. F. GRAY. CARPETl CLEANII'vIGMAHIN-I.` APPLICATION msn ocr. l2. |311.

Patented J une 11, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. F. GRAY. CARPET CLEANING MACHINE. l nrrlicmlou nun ocr. 12, Isn.

Patented June. Il, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H. F. GRAY. CARPET CLEANING MACHNE. APPLICATION FILED ocr. 12. |911.

Patented J une 1l, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

i Toy all whom z't may concern.' i

BALLA. F. GRAY, DENVER, COLORADO.

Specification of lLetters Patent.

CARPET-CLEANING' MACHINE.

Patented J une 11, 1918.

Application led October 12,1917. Serial No. 196,202.

Be it known that I, HALLA F. Gm, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new andV useful Improvements in Carpet-Cleaning Machines and I do declare the following to be a full,

ceed

ployed as a from. However,

clear, and -exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tovmake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which forml aV part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for cleaning carpets and rugs. My improvement is primarily intended or use as a'machine for washing-carpets, rugs and other similar articles, having a nap or pile, andthough more particularly intended for this use, it is also adapted for washing onscrubbing dry vacuum cleaner, the only modification or change necessary in order to convert the structure from a wet to a dry machine being the cutting olf of' the supply of cleaning liquid, and making provision for depositing the dust in a suitable receptacle and allowing the air to escape therev the main features of the wet and dry machines may be the same as will be understood as this specification pros. So faras the function intended to beperformed by the wet machine is concerned, it is the same as that cf the machine covered in my7Patent #1,240,799 dated September 18, 191

In my present invention, I emplo as the distinguishing feature two rotary rushes, arranged transversely to the direction of the machines travel, said brushes being spaced by a member which closes the suction nozzleat the bottom suiiciently to obtain the necessary partial vvacuum conditionbetween the brushes, in order to remove the dlrty, soapy liquid as it is brought into positlon to the suction, by thebrushes, and particularly by the rear brush which during the wet cleaningl process, `1 s a brush in the sense that no liquld 1s dellvered directly to this brush, its' functlon being to remove the dirty soapy l1qu1d from the nap or pile of the carpet or rug and floors, and further may be em-` preference being made to bring it into position to' be removed through the agency of the suction nozzle whose lower extremity is located between the two rotary brushes. Inv other words, the rear brush serves 'to comb out the dirty, soapy liquid or refuse material from the nap or pile of the carpet and in this respect it is believed well adapted to act upon this nap or pile which is delicate and cannot be subjected to the harsh scrubbing condition incident or necessary in the scrubbing of floors and other hard surfaces. The nap or pile of the carpet or rug must be carefully handled' during thev wet, cleaning process, otherwise it will be injured or destroyed. Again, if too much liquid is supplied it will cause the colors to run and ruin the article. Hence, my present machine, as heretofore indicated, is constructedv with special reference to the carrying out or practising of the wet cleaning process for carpets, rugs and `other similar delicate articles having nap 4or pile, and whose structure is ycharacterized by the qualities 'heretofore indicated;4 though as heretofore stated, the4 structure may be employed as a Hoor scrubber, in which case it is also a wet machine, and also as a vacuum cleaner or dryv machine for removing the dustand dirt from carpets and rugs in a dry or dust-like form.

Having briefly outlined my improvement I will proceed to describe the same in detail, the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing:

Figure l is a vertical section of my improved machine taken approximately on the line l-1, Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section takenI on the llne 2 2, Fig. 1, looking downwardly.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe machine partly broken away at the top and illustrating means for adjusting the brushes and the adjacent cooperating plates to sate for the wear of the brushes. y

Fig. 4 is a cross section takenonl the line Alc-4, Fig. 1 looking toward the right.

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section Showing a slightly similar'to Fig. l, but modified form of construction.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Letr the numeral V designate a suitable frame or housingv mounted on front and rear.

' ing transversely of the machine the full y sage extends proper vacuum condition,

width thereofv and arranged preferably to be rotated in reverse directions as indicated by the arrows adjacent the brushes in Figs. 1 and 6, the rotary movement being such as to carry the material taken up by the brushes inwardly into the space between the brushes, whereby it is brought into position to be acted on by the suction nozzle 13, whose pasupwardly and communicates by two branches 14; wit a suction producing device or fan 15, which discharges thewet material through an outlet 16 into a receptacle 98 which as illustrated in the drawing, is supported on the rear portion of the main housing or frame work. Just below the mouth of the nozzle 13, is a spacin member 17 which'also extends transverse of the machine the full width thereof andy parallel with the two brushes, this spacing member being so arranged as to `properly close the space mouth of the nozzle in order to maintain a whereby the suction may be suicient to remove the heavy wet refuse material which is taken out of the nap or pile of the carpettrugor simllar article through the cooperation of the brushes,

and particularly through the instrumentality of the rear brush 12, which is intended to perform this function as well as to further aid in the removal of any dirt or foreign l matter that otherwise might be clinging to the nap or pet pile in the event that it has not all been entirely loosened or separated from the nap or pile by the action of theforward `brush 10 whose special dut is tobring the soapy cleaning liquid into c eaning or scrubbing contact' with the nap or p' e of the carin such a manner as to loosen and disen` gage the dirtand foreign matter from its normal, clinging contact with the na or pile of the article acted on. This brus .10, however, will remove some of the dirt or refuse material from the carpet and .carry it inwardly and upwardly into position to be actedon by the suction nozzle 13. Iifhe spacing member 17 and the suction nozzle 1 3 may together be considered a suitablesuction nozzle means. y Attention is called to the fact .that the two rotary brushes are hooded or housed in by the housing `lor frame work of the chine, in sucha manner as-not only to p1-cerly'maintein the 'necessary vacuum `con tion for the proper per function, but also for the purpose of facilibetween the brushes 'and below thel :formance of A-theiu- `larger pulley 30, fast on a tenaces y refuse material taken out of the nap ofthe or other article by the rotary carpet rug to the rear. of the brush 12, will be carried brush and be deplosited in a cavity or chamber 19, and for t e purpose of removing this material, an auxiliaryv conduit 20 which is vertically disposed communicates at one extremity with the c amber 19 and at its opposite extremityl with the suction nozzle at the junction 18. The housing of the chamber 19 is provided with an opening normally closed by a screw plu or other suitable de vice 21. y'When the c osure is removed, the conduit 20 may be passed therethroughand threaded into an opening formed in the suction nozzle for'the purpose of making the connection for the proper performance of its function, as heretofore indicated. It should also be explained that each of the brushes 10 and 12 is formed in two or more sections in order that they may be passed through the. openings in the bottom ofthe housing 1n order to connect them with. the shaftsS and 9 upon which they are mounted, since, as shown in the drawing, the brushes in their entirety would not pass through these openings vand the drawing does not illustrate other provision for introducing them, though such `'provision could undoubtedly be made b forming openings in the housing and roviding removable closures. features are details with which it is not m present purpose to deal, as they will be le to the skill of the mechanical engineer when the commercial machine is produced.

The movement is imparted to the rotary brushes from a motor 22. which as illustrated in the drawing is of the electric type and may be connected to any suitable source of current through the medium ductors 23 and 24 (see Fig. 1). shaft 25 extends downwardly and operates the fans or blades of the suction Aproducing theshaft whose lower naled -in a socket However, t ese of the con- The motor work :or housing which it is believed may be made off single casting, proper lopenings being left d provided with closures as that designated 77 -in Fig. -1. --`Upon the apulley 2,8 .which is of a belt .with .a

shaft 31 whi shaftl 26 is; mounted connes aai l byk means construction is also provided with smaller pulleys 32, from which respectively lead belts 33 and 34, to pulleys fast on the Shafts 8 and 9 for operating the brushes 10 and 12, suitable ,provision being made for reducing the speed of the motor shaft which be far too great for the brushes in question, and while I have indicated speed reducing or stepping down mechanism in a general way, it must be understood that any suitable construction may be em loyed with this end in view. The belt 34 is crossed in order to cause its brush 12 to rotate in the opposite direction from the brush 10, the lower portions of both belts movin r inwardly as indi- -oated by the arrows in order to bring the refuse material into proper relative position to be acted on by the suction nozzle, as heretofore explained. lFurthermore, the belt 34 passes through an opening 35 formed inthe suction nozzle, said opening being housed in, whereby the passage through the nozzle is maintained intact, the only difference being that the space extends around the housed opening 35 on -both sides.

Suitably mounted upon themachine is a tank 36 which contains a suitable soapy compound or cleaning liquid which passes by way ofa conduit .37 and is delivered at the lower extremity of said conduit upon an inclined distributing platel 38 which is luted, as shown at 39, to discharge the liquid approximately evenly upon' the brush 10 'throughout theentire length of the latter. .he lower portion 40 of the conduit 37 is flexible and Aadapted to be oscillated through the medium of a horizontal oscillatory arm 41, oneextremity of which is provided With a Sleeve 42 through which the flexible member 40 passes. The oscillatory movement of the sleeve extremity of the arm 41 'is imparted by a short crank 43 which passes through a slot 44 'formed in the arm 41, the rear extremity of the last named arm being pivotally connected with the frame, as shown at 45. The length of the arm 41 will be so regulated with'reference to the throw of the crank 43 of the shaft 26, that the discharge extremity 40 of the conduit 37 will `move back and forth over the entire width or area of the upper extremity of the distributer 38 for the aforesaid purpose. As shownl in the drawing, the distributer is shown as an integral part ofthe casting, constituting the housing the structure, though it must be understood4 that it is not commercial purposes that this particular should be adhered to, unless it is found practicable so, to do from a commercial standpoint.

Fromathe foregoing description, the use and operation of my improved machine so far as the wet cleaning of carpets, rugs-and other articles is concerned Will be readilyI would normally -of the spacing member 17.

or frame work of necessary in practice or for r,

heretofore described, operate the suction' producing device 15 and rotate the two brushes 10 and 12 in oppositedirections and at the proper speed for the performance of their function. At the same time, the soapy liquid or cleaning compound will be delivered to the distributer charged upon the brush 10, whereby it will be carried ydownwardly to the carpet or rug, with the result that a sort of suds is pro duced through'the action of the brush upon the article, whereby the 'dirt and foreign matter is loosened from the nap or pile of the carpet and mixed with the said soapy substance, a portion of which will be carried upwardly and removed by the suction of the nozzle 13. It is assumed, however, that the greater portion of 4the soapy compound mlxed with the dirt or foreign matter will heretofore, indicated, comb the refuse material out of the nap of the carpet and bring it into position to be acted upon by the suction nozzle. Assuming that the two brushes are rotated in opposite directions, as indicated in the drawing and as plained, the brush 10 will combthe nap the wrong way for instance, while the? brush 12 will reverse the position of the nap Aand leave it all combed or laid in the proper direction. Hence, my improved machine performs the nap combing as well as the cleaning function. The wet refuse material removed heretofore ex- 38, and thence disupwardly and discharged into the receptacle. 98, from which it may be removed by detaching the said receptacle and emptying the same whenever there is a suiicient accumulation -to require it.

he manner of efecting the vertical adjustment of the brushes is illustrated in Fig. 3. It should also be explained that a corresponding adjustment will be necessary with reference to two suction regulating plates 50 which are movably connected with the housing and are rear sides of the mouth of the nozzle 13 and just above the spacing member 17, exit passages 51 from` the vbrush chambers being formed between the plates 50 and the top These plates 50 are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

ounted-on each side of the housing or frame work of the machine is a plate 52 in whlch are respectively journaled the oppodisposed elongated the housing. Pins located at the front and e extremities of these shafts alsothe opposite exslots 58 formed in each plate 52, the main housing being also --is provided with .connected at their lower extremities as A 56 respectively, whereby thebrushes -reverse movement,

. -wardly as l, may be required.

'shown at 9e, itlieopposite extremity loeach arin 6:1 being slidably supported in a guide '65 carried by :the housing. `Consequently, as the hand flever 641 is'inoved in one direction -or'the other, as for instance toward the right (see Fig. 3.) the two -plates -5.1 will be moved downwardly Ivirtue of the en- `gagement of the wrist pins 59 with the inclined slot 60 of the arm 6 1. [Ellis :dow-nward `movement will carry :the Shafts 8,19 and 81 downwardly in the slots .511, .55 and 10 and 12, the shaft 31 and their connections are moved downwardly yto compensate for ,the wear oi Ithe-bristles of the brushes, while at the lsanne ltime the lates 50 are moved inwardly ytoward i their lrespective brushes by virtue of :the engagement of the pins or spindles 57 with the -inclined slots 58 .of

ythe plates 52. lAgain,-asfthe opposite .move-v he -hand lever .(34, .the

.ment :is imparted tto be tlm of course, will parted to .the `aforesaid elements. ilengtliof the belt 29 issuchthatthe change Aof position .of the shaft4 31 and its jpulleys 30 and .32 ywill .not iinterfere with -tl-ie .proper operation .of the beltsfandl from the shaft 26 through .theinedi'um of `the pulley 28. `Bv virtueohthis adjustment the brushes be used iuntil their iblsstles are practically Iworn o,.thus.greatly economining so .far as the brush .element is concerned, while at thesame .time .the adjust' ment .is quickly and easily accomplished .to move thebrushes eitherupwardly oridown- When the .machine is in luse over:the carpet, v.rug-or Vother article by the person -in charge thereof, who gfrasps :the handle partf of the arms 67 which are connected with the .frame work of the inachine on opposite sides, as shown at 68.-

The lremovable tank or receptacle 98 is provided on its rear wall witha hand ,hold 69 to -acilitate the emptying'of the refuse material from the .tank after it is :removed from-the machine. The tankis ifurther provided witli an inclined wall-70 -which leads toward the opening 71 -to facilitate the emptying f operation.

AWhen it is. desired vtogain acces'sto .the interior of the housing er frame `.work of the vstructure for assembling, repairs. or

may be opened.

icloses may .or vdesirable.

fue,

is, therefore,

.it is moved theage '7.7 which .is sieges .si :ze lhe area .or siae .of z 's door `together with the .opening `which --it be .regulated as .may be necessary otherwise,

The -forin .of construction shown in Fig. .G is adapted for .use when 'the .machine is .employed .in build-ings or .other localities having their own suction producing plants, in which .event the suction fan 15 is omitted and a single pipe 78 extends upwardly lfrom the suction nozzle 13, its upperentreinity being in direct communication with the .tank

98a for receiving the reiuse material, and

with Iwhich .the .house suction .is connected as' shown at .74. As shown .in ythis figure the tank 98*-1 is provided with ,an auxiliary compartment 7 5 in .communication with the inain tank chamber by a bottom .opening covered by .a fine screen 97, or use more especially in order to strain out the` dust from the air :as it .leaves 4the tank. This form yoli-construction may be ,employed as a vacuum .or dry cleaner by simply closing a valve 76 in the pipe 37 .leading from the ltank 36 carrying the cleaning liquid. ln .this -forrn of construction, the ,arm l1 is connected at its .rear extremity ,with the .pipe Z3 as shown at 90. Gf course, with tbedry machine there will be no occasion for .the oscillatory arm 41, but the .operation of this will do no harm; but, if .desired it may be .disconnected o r .rendered inactive any suitable ina-nner. This statement is made on ,the assumption that the lsame machine is employed for both lwet and dry cleaning, an convertible.. But, if :the machine is .constructed for dry cleaningalona the Vfeatures .peculiar the tank 36, the conduit 37, the iiuted distributing plate 38`and the oscillatory anni il, .may be .omitted entirely. i

Any vsuitable means ma .be empleyed connection ing the saine .in vthe desired position of adjustment. lin .the drawing, I have ,shown a pawl 78 coperating with a ratchctZ-S) which is shown attached 4to the motor frame. y It is evident thatl these are details that may be changed or modified as circumstances or me.- chanical skill may dictate or suggest.

ln Fig. 511 have illustrated a 'device for cleaning .the brushes in .the event ,that .they become cloed or filled with refuse .nesterial of any nd; This device as shownconsists of a plate S0 bifurcated at .81 `.to form two spring arms 82 and 83 ,and having inwardly -projecting lips 84A adapted .to l.enter grooves 85 ,of counterpart shape'fermedm be successively ap.

to the wet machine, as`

er .on .opposite si es adjacent with .the hand ever 64 for seeiir-l the motor until the desired eiiect is accomplished, after which the device will be detached, as it is only employed when the brushes are operated for cleaning purposes size of the plates should be such that thel slots 5.4, 55 and 56, as well as the other slots through which the pins 57 pass, will remain covered at 4all times. This is practicable, since the plates fit closely against the sides of the housing, but gaskets or packing material of any kind may of course be employed for the purpose of maintaining the necessary vacuum condition, without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is: v

1. A portable machine for cleaning can' pets, rugs, fioors and the-lik frame adapted to be moved or surface to be cleaned and thereon two rotary brushes the frame include, comprising a over the artlcle mg a housing forming a chamber in which the brushes are located and a suction nozzle means spacing the brushes and communicat# I ing with the portions of the housing chamvthe brushes ber in which the brushes are located and shaped to draw the refuse material from approximately all of the scrubbed portion of the carpet or `other'suri'ace engaged by and adjacent thereto.

2. A portable machine for' cleaning car-- pets, floors and the like, comprising a frame movable over the article or surface to be cleaned, and having. mounted thereon a scrubber, a rotary brush the frame including a housing forming a chamber in which the brush is locatedand a suction nozzle means adjacent the rotary brush, extending downwardlyin close proximity to the article to be cleaned, and ha anopening in communication with the portion ofthe housing chamber in which the brush is located, the

nozzle means and rotary brush being located means being sha the refuse material from appronmately all the article or surface engaged by thei scrubber and adjacent y thereto.

cleaning carcomprising the article or 3. A portablemachine :tor pets, rugs, floors and the llke, frame adapted to move over surface to be cleaned and having mountedthereon two rotary brushes and a -suction shaped to draw the refuse material from approximately all the scrubbed portion of having mounted the carpet or other surface engaged by the brushes and 'adjacentthereto and a member arranged between the brushes and spaced therefrom and from the suction nozzle.

4. A portable machine for cleaning carpets, rugs, loors and the like, comprising a frame adapted to move over the article or surface to be cleaned and having mounted brushes and adjacent thereto, the frame belng constructed to form chambers in which the brushes are respectively located, and a spacing member arranged between theV brushes and coperating therewith and with the suction nozzle, between which. and the spacing member are arranged passages forming communication between the brush cham bers and the nozzle.

5. A portable machine of the class described, comprisinga frame, a scrubbing brush carried thereby, means for imparting rotary scrubbing movement to the brush, and means for feeding a cleansing medium to the brush .including a stationary inclined plate, aconduit arranged above the plate and in communication with the source of the cleansing medium, and means for oscillating the conduit. l

6. A portable machine of the class described, comprising al {frame adapted to be moved over the article ory vsurface to vbe cleaned and having mounted thereon two and having their axes parallel '100 I rotary brushes, one being arranged forward lof the other with the surface over which the 'machine travels, and means for simultaneously adjusting the brushes vertically to compensate for the wear, said means including side plates in which and movable arms having inclined slots,` wrist pins on the plates engaging said slots, and means for actuating the said arms.

7. A portable machine of the class de.-y scribed, comprising a frame ada ted to be moved over the article or sur ace to f be cleaned and having rotary brushes, asuction .nozzle arranged between the brushes, a spacing member also arrangedbetween the brushes and below the mouth of the nozzle and so positioned that passages are formed between the hps of thev nozzle and the said spacing member, a plate arranged on one side of each of these passages, and means for adjusting the same to compensate for the wear ofthe brushes.

8. A portable machine of the class de-o scribed, comprim'ng a frame ada ted to be moved' over the article or ace to be rotary brushes, a e 'suction nozzle the brushes are journaled,

mounted t ereon two between the brushes, a spacing memberalsoy arranged between the br 4shes and below the positioned that the lips of the mouth of the nozzle and so passages are formed between nozzle and the said spacing mernb arranged on one side oir' each of these pas sages, and means for adjusting the same toI compensate for the wear of the brushes, saidmeans including'side plates having inclined slots through which end pins pass, with which pins the suction equipped, and movable arms having lnclined slots which receive wrist pins with which the side plates are provided, and` means for adjusting the said arms.

9. A portable machine of the classy described, comprising alframe adapted te be moved over the article or surface to be cleaned. and having mounted thereon two rotary brushes, the frame including a house in-g forming chambers in which the brushes are respectively located, a suctionI nozzle arranged between the brushes and in communication with the brush chambers by' suitable passages, vertically disposed side plates arranged on the opposite sides of they-frame, in which the said brushes are journaled,` movable arms having inclined slots which receive wrist pins formed on the said lates, suction regulating plates having e pins which engage inclined slots formeel in the er, a plate v regulating plates are' movable arms having aaeaeea saidf sideplates, the beingy arranged= adjacent ing communication between the ag formarms. maehine-oi the class de- A cation with the brush chambers by suitable passages, vertically disposed side platesl ar'- ranged onl the opposite sides oit the frame,-

in which the said brushes are journaled, imi-ined slots which receivel wrist pins formed on thesaid lates, suction regulating pilates having. en pins which engafgeinclined slots form in said side' plaecs, the suction'- regnlasing plates being arranged adjacent the passages fiorining=ennicaticn between the section nofzzle and? brush chambers, and means for actuating the said;I arms, frame o y the machine* being slottedtopermit vertical adjllstment of the side? plates.'

in tnlywhereof l v,infinis n esas.

suctionK regltxlai-,ingk platos the suction nozzie' andv the. brush chambers, and means ion" a irafmeI adapted to be the' thief stationary' a my siature. 

